Suspension Upgrade

[wiggy]

Hi All,
Looking to upgrade the suspension in my GXL with a 30 to 50mm lift.
Haven't really been able to find much out on the net, probably because the Fortuner isn't really a mainstream 4WD yet.
Can anyone point me in the right direction ?

[Kiat]

Let's see.. (in no particular order)

Lovells
OME
Tough Dog
Ultimate Suspension/Gabriel
Ironman 4x4
TJM
Dobinsons
Bilstein
Rancho
Anarchy
King Springs
Webco

...maybe more I missed.

[gbrought]

I had some prototype HD Lovells fitted before my trip and I think they are being released soon. About 40mm lift (I have a steel bull bar). very happy with them so far. The OEM shocks are quite decent and so I will wait quite a while before I bother with upgrading them I suspect.

[wiggy]

I spose what I should have really asked is what brands of springs/shocks are fellow Tuna owners using and where are they getting them from. I'm in country Vic and 4WD specialists are few and far between unless you want OME suspension which is really all that's on offer around here.

[Silver Tuna]

I read the latest arb magazine today and they're product development guy said that anymore than 25mm lift in the rear and they were getting driveline vibrations, so that is when the ome lift is limited to. Anyone with other lift at higher than 25mm in the rear notice any driveline vibrations?

[gbrought]

Not so far but most of the driving since my HD Lovells were fitted has been fully trip-loaded so I'm guessing my 40mm unladen lift settled to below 25mm? Now that I am home and all unloaded I will keep an eye on things. I've done a return trip (Sydney to Canberra) and didn't notice any driveline vibration either.

[Bretts-Forty]

Hi.
Yes i have a 40mm bilstien king spring set and it vibrates likes mad.

[Skardo22]

I have drive shaft vibration in the rear, I have an Ironman 45-50mm lift. I have an ARB drive shaft spacer on order and I'm hoping this will fix the issue.

TJM also have a spacer as part of their lift kit.

The vibration is only first gear just on take off, so once over approximately 15/20kph it stops.

I will re-post if the ARB spacers fixes the issue.

from what I have read and been informed, this is a modern day 4wd issue and not just isolated to the Fortuner.

[Monaz]

Skardo22 Mate when you are talking about a driveshaft spacer, what exactly are you talking about? Although I'm not currently driving a Fortuner, My HiLux has 5 inchs (125mm) of lift in the rear and has never suffered from a vibration. Can you give us a few more details?

[kzen]

Think it has something to do with mismatched angles between the universal joints at the diff and transfer case. My understanding is that putting spacers in changes the angle at the diff so that it can again match the angle at the transfer case.

[Skardo22]

@Monza: Kzen's explanation is exactly how it's been explained to me. My previous 09 Hilux had n ironman 45-50mm lift with nil vibration. But I've read current shape BT-50's have had the vibration when lifted and my mate had to extend a triton drive shaft.
This is a short video explaining how it happens.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gmV4qwLfOMY

[Monaz]

Skardo22 Ok...cool. I'll have to watch the video at home. Cant watch YouTube here at work. I'll get back to you.

[kzen]

Excellent video. Thanks Skardo22.

[Anthony]

Wiggy; I've a 40mm ARB OME lift that I've had since May & not noticed any shudder or anything out of the ordinary but the ARB kit included packers. If it helps the OME part nos. front shocks 90029; rear shocks 2802; front springs 2885; rear springs 60141; front camber height 397; rear camber height 446; trim packers OME95PF5.

[river]

Do u have any photos of ur car before and after this kit was installed just for curiosity.?

[Skardo22]

So I've fitted the ARB tail shaft spacer and it has taken care of the issue (vibration). I'd more call them a shim, as they are just a rectangle washer that go btw the chassis and bracket that holds the tail shaft join. Which changes the angle of the tail shaft, which lengths it a little. Either way, I have no more vibration...

[Monaz]

That's great news....any chance of getting a pic up for us???

[Skardo22]

I took some, but just having some issues uploading. I'll try again tomoz

[Skardo22]

[Monaz]

Thanks buddy, so it has basically just spaced the center uni 10-12mm lower yeah?